Marchable and steerable rocking horse

ABSTRACT

A marchable and steerable rocking horse includes a main frame having a seat and an arcuate frame spaced from the seat in a vertical direction. Upper ends of left and right legs are pivotably connected to a front end of the seat. Lower ends of the left and right legs slightly extend beyond the bottom face of the arcuate frame. The main frame moves forward in the longitudinal direction when the lower ends of the left and right legs contact the ground while the main frame rocking in the longitudinal direction. A steering mechanism is provided to keep one of the left and right legs above the ground, so that the rocking horse can turn rightward or leftward. A movable plate is provided to keep both of the left and right legs above the ground, so that the rocking horse can rock on the site.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a rocking horse and, more particularly, to a rocking horse that is marchable and steerable in addition to on-site rocking.

2. Description of the Related Art

A type of rocking horse includes a seat, a horse head-shaped plate fixed on a front end of the seat, and a handlebar on opposite sides of the horse head-shaped plate. An arcuate frame is fixed by front and rear support beams to the seat, allowing the rocking horse to rock on the ground when a user moves his or her body. However, the rocking horse can merely rock on the site.

Thus, a need exists for a rocking horse that can march in addition to on-site rocking.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention solves this need and other problems in the field of movable rocking horses by providing, in a preferred form, a marchable and steerable rocking horse including a main frame having a seat and an arcuate frame spaced from the seat in a vertical direction. The seat includes front and rear ends spaced in a longitudinal direction perpendicular to the vertical direction. The front end of the seat includes upper and lower faces spaced in the vertical direction. The lower face includes left and right sides spaced in a width direction perpendicular to the vertical and longitudinal directions. The main frame is rockable in the longitudinal direction when the arcuate frame is located on a ground. A left leg includes an upper end pivotably connected to the left side of the lower face of the front end of the seat and a lower end spaced from the upper end of the left leg in the vertical direction. The lower end of the left leg slightly extends beyond a bottom face of the arcuate frame. A right leg includes an upper end pivotably connected to the right side of the lower face of the front end of the seat and a lower end spaced from the upper end of the right leg in the vertical direction. The lower end of the right leg slightly extends beyond the bottom face of the arcuate frame in the vertical direction. The main frame moves forward in the longitudinal direction when the lower ends of the left and right legs contact the ground while the main frame rocking in the longitudinal direction. A steering mechanism includes a handlebar mounted above the upper face of the front end of the seat. A steering rod is fixed to the handlebar and rotatably extends from the upper face through the lower face of the front end of the seat. An actuating rod is fixed to and extends transversely to the steering rod and allows the handlebar to rotate relative to the seat.

A first end of the actuating rod presses against the left leg when the handlebar is rotated in a first direction, lifting the lower end of the left leg above the ground so that the main frame turns leftward while the main frame rocking in the longitudinal direction. A second end of the actuating rod presses against the right leg when the handlebar is rotated in a second direction opposite to the first direction, lifting the lower end of the right leg above the ground so that the main frame turns rightward while the main frame rocking in the longitudinal direction.

In the most preferred form, the arcuate frame includes left and right arcuate beams spaced in the width direction. The lower ends of the left and right legs are intermediate the left and right arcuate beams in the width direction. The main frame further includes a front connecting plate interconnected between the left and right arcuate beams. The front connecting plate is located in front of the left and right legs in the longitudinal direction. A cushioning member is mounted to the lower end of each of the left and right legs. The left leg is at a first acute angle to a first vertical line and located behind the first vertical line in the longitudinal direction when the cushioning member of the left leg comes in contact with the front connecting plate. The right leg is at a second acute angle to a second vertical line and located behind the second vertical line in the longitudinal direction when the cushioning member of the right leg comes in contact with the front connecting plate. Furthermore, a spring is mounted between each of the left and right legs and the seat to return the left and right legs. Further, the main frame further includes a front support beam located interconnected between the seat and the arcuate frame. A movable plate is pivotably mounted to the front support beam. The movable plate is pivotable between a first position pressing against the left and right legs to prevent the lower ends of the left and right legs move beyond the bottom face of the arcuate frame in the vertical direction, allowing on-site rocking of the main frame in the longitudinal direction and a second position not pressing against the left and right legs such that the main frame marches in the longitudinal direction when the lower ends of the left and right legs contact the ground while the main frame rocking in the longitudinal direction.

The present invention will become clearer in light of the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments of this invention described in connection with the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The illustrative embodiments may best be described by reference to the accompanying drawings where:

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a marchable and steerable rocking horse according to the preferred teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows a side view of the rocking horse of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a side view of the rocking horse of FIG. 1 with the rocking horse rocking in a longitudinal direction.

FIG. 4 shows a top view of the rocking horse of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 shows a top view of the rocking horse of FIG. 1 with a handlebar of the rocking horse rotated rightward.

FIG. 6 shows a side view of the rocking horse of FIG. 1 with a right leg moved rearward due to rightward turning of the handlebar.

FIG. 7 shows a top view of the rocking horse of FIG. 1 with the handlebar rotated leftward.

FIG. 8 shows a side view of the rocking horse of FIG. 1 with a movable plate in a position allowing on-site rocking of the rocking horse.

All figures are drawn for ease of explanation of the basic teachings of the present invention only; the extensions of the figures with respect to number, position, relationship, and dimensions of the parts to form the preferred embodiments will be explained or will be within the skill of the art after the following teachings of the present invention have been read and understood. Further, the exact dimensions and dimensional proportions to conform to specific force, weight, strength, and similar requirements will likewise be within the skill of the art after the following teachings of the present invention have been read and understood.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A marchable and steerable rocking horse according to the preferred teachings of the present invention is shown in the drawings and includes a main frame 1 having a seat 11 and an arcuate frame 12 spaced from the seat 11 in a vertical direction. The seat 11 includes front and rear ends spaced in a longitudinal direction perpendicular to the vertical direction. The front end of the seat 11 includes upper and lower faces spaced in the vertical direction. The lower face includes left and right sides spaced in a width direction perpendicular to the vertical and longitudinal directions. Front and rear support beams 131 and 132 are interconnected between the seat 11 and the arcuate frame 12. In the most preferred form shown, the arcuate frame 12 includes left and right arcuate beams spaced in the width direction. Front and rear connecting plates 14 and 15 are interconnected between the left and right arcuate beams. The main frame 1 is rockable in the longitudinal direction when the arcuate frame 12 is located on the ground.

In the preferred form shown, the rocking horse further includes a moving leg mechanism 2 having left and right pivotal seats 21 and 22 respectively formed in the left and right sides of the lower face of the front end of the seat 11 of the main frame 1. The left pivotal seat 21 receives an upper end of a left leg 25. A left pin 28 extends through the upper end of the left leg 25 and a pin hole in the left pivotal seat 21, allowing pivotal movement of the left leg 25 relative to the left pivotal seat 21. A left elastic element 23 in the preferred form shown as a torsion spring is mounted between the upper end of the left leg 25 and the seat 11 for returning the left leg 25. The left leg 25 further includes a lower end spaced from the upper end of the left leg 25 in the vertical direction. The lower end of the left leg 25 slightly extends beyond a bottom face of the arcuate frame 12. The right pivotal seat 22 receives an upper end of a right leg 26. A right pin 28 extends through the upper end of the right leg 26 and a pin hole in the right pivotal seat 22, allowing pivotal movement of the right leg 26 relative to the right pivotal seat 22. A right elastic element 24 in the form of a torsion spring is mounted between the upper end of the right leg 26 and the seat 11 for returning the right leg 26. The right leg 26 further includes a lower end spaced from the upper end of the right leg 26 in the vertical direction. The lower end of the right leg 26 slightly extends beyond the bottom face of the arcuate frame 12 in the vertical direction. The lower ends of the left and right legs 25 and 26 are intermediate the left and right arcuate beams in the width direction. The front connecting plate 14 is located in front of the left and right legs 25 and 26 in the longitudinal direction. In the most preferred form shown, a cushioning member 251, 261 made of rubber or the like is mounted to the lower end of each of the left and right legs 25 and 26.

Each of the left and right legs 25 and 26 is at an acute angle Y of about 2°-5° to a vertical line X and located behind the vertical line X in the longitudinal direction when the cushioning member 251, 261 of the leg 25, 26 comes in contact with the front connecting plate 14. Thus, the main frame 1 moves forward in the longitudinal direction when the lower ends of the left and right legs 25 and 26 contact the ground while the main frame 1 rocking in the longitudinal direction (see FIGS. 2 and 3). The rocking horse marches in the longitudinal direction when a user sitting on the seat 11 repeatedly rocks the main frame 1 in the longitudinal direction by moving his or her body. The cushioning members 251 and 261 prevent damage to the left and right legs 25 and 26 while reducing noise due to impact to the front connecting plate 14 from the left and right legs 25 and 26 under returning action of the elastic elements 23 and 24.

In the preferred form shown, the rocking horse further includes a steering mechanism 3 including a handlebar 31, a steering rod 32, and an actuating rod 33. The handlebar 31 is mounted above the upper face of the front end of the seat 11. In the most preferred form shown, the handlebar 31 includes a horse head-shaped plate and a pair of handle grips on opposite sides of the horse head-shaped plate. The steering rod 32 is fixed to the handlebar 31 and rotatably extending from the upper face through the lower face of the front end of the seat 11. The actuating rod 33 is fixed to and extends transversely to the steering rod 32 and allows the handlebar 31 to rotate relative to the seat 11. The actuating rod 33 includes first and second ends.

In the preferred form shown, the rocking horse further includes a positioning mechanism 4 having movable plate 41 pivotably mounted to the front support beam 131 by a hinge plate 42, so that the movable plate 41 can move relative to the front support beam 131 between a first, extended position and a second, folded position.

The rocking horse according to the preferred teachings of the present invention can turn when desired. Specifically, when the handlebar 31 is rotated rightward, the second end of the actuating rod 33 presses against the right leg 26 (FIGS. 5 and 6) to lift the lower end of the right leg 26 above the ground, so that the main frame 1 turns rightward while the main frame 1 rocking in the longitudinal direction with the lower end of the left leg 25 intermittently contacting the ground. Likewise, when the handlebar 31 is rotated leftward, the first end of the actuating rod 33 presses against the left leg 25 (FIG. 7) to lift the lower end of the left leg 25 above the ground, so that the main frame 1 turns leftward while the main frame 1 rocking in the longitudinal direction with the lower end of the right leg 26 intermittently contacting the ground. Easy maneuverability of the rocking horse according to the preferred teachings of the present invention is, thus, provided.

It can be appreciated that the movable plate 41 is in the second, folded position not pressing against the left and right legs 25 and 26 such that the main frame 1 marches in the longitudinal direction when the lower ends of the left and right legs 25 and 26 intermittently contact the ground while the main frame rocking in the longitudinal direction.

On the other hand, when the movable plate 41 is moved to the first, extended position (FIG. 8) pressing against the left and right legs 25 and 26, the lower ends of the left and right legs 25 and 26 can not move beyond the bottom face of the arcuate frame 12 in the vertical direction (namely, the lower ends of the left and right legs 25 and 26 are kept above the ground), allowing on-site rocking of the main frame 1 in the longitudinal direction.

Thus since the invention disclosed herein may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or general characteristics thereof, some of which forms have been indicated, the embodiments described herein are to be considered in all respects illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is to be indicated by the appended claims, rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are intended to be embraced therein. 

1. A marchable and steerable rocking horse comprising: a main frame including a seat and an arcuate frame spaced from the seat in a vertical direction, with the seat including front and rear ends spaced in a longitudinal direction perpendicular to the vertical direction, with the front end of the seat including upper and lower faces spaced in the vertical direction, with the lower face including left and right sides spaced in a width direction perpendicular to the vertical and longitudinal directions, with the main frame being rockable in the longitudinal direction when the arcuate frame is located on a ground; a left leg including an upper end pivotably connected to the left side of the lower face of the front end of the seat and a lower end spaced from the upper end of the left leg in the vertical direction, with the lower end of the left leg slightly extending beyond a bottom face of the arcuate frame; a right leg including an upper end pivotably connected to the right side of the lower face of the front end of the seat and a lower end spaced from the upper end of the right leg in the vertical direction, with the lower end of the right leg slightly extending beyond the bottom face of the arcuate frame in the vertical direction, with the main frame moves forward in the longitudinal direction when the lower ends of the left and right legs contact the ground while the main frame rocking in the longitudinal direction; and a steering mechanism including a handlebar mounted above the upper face of the front end of the seat, with the steering mechanism further including a steering rod fixed to the handlebar and rotatably extending from the upper face through the lower face of the front end of the seat, with the steering mechanism further including an actuating rod fixed to and extending transversely to the steering rod and allowing the handlebar to rotate relative to the seat, with the actuating rod including first and second ends, with the first end of the actuating rod pressing against the left leg when the handlebar is rotated in a first direction, lifting the lower end of the left leg above the ground so that the main frame turns leftward while the main frame rocking in the longitudinal direction, with the second end of the actuating rod pressing against the right leg when the handlebar is rotated in a second direction opposite to the first direction, lifting the lower end of the right leg above the ground so that the main frame turns rightward while the main frame rocking in the longitudinal direction.
 2. The marchable and steerable rocking horse as claimed in claim 1, with the arcuate frame including left and right arcuate beams spaced in the width direction, with the lower ends of the left and right legs intermediate the left and right arcuate beams in the width direction, with the main frame further including a front connecting plate interconnected between the left and right arcuate beams, with the front connecting plate located in front of the left and right legs in the longitudinal direction, with a cushioning member mounted to the lower end of each of the left and right legs, with the left leg at a first acute angle to a first vertical line and located behind the first vertical line in the longitudinal direction when the cushioning member of the left leg comes in contact with the front connecting plate, with the right leg at a second acute angle to a second vertical line and located behind the second vertical line in the longitudinal direction when the cushioning member of the right leg comes in contact with the front connecting plate.
 3. The marchable and steerable rocking horse as claimed in claim 1, with the main frame further including a front support beam located interconnected between the seat and the arcuate frame, with a movable plate pivotably mounted to the front support beam, with the movable plate pivotable between a first position pressing against the left and right legs to prevent the lower ends of the left and right legs move beyond the bottom face of the arcuate frame in the vertical direction, allowing on-site rocking of the main frame in the longitudinal direction and a second position not pressing against the left and right legs such that the main frame marches in the longitudinal direction when the lower ends of the left and right legs contact the ground while the main frame rocking in the longitudinal direction.
 4. The marchable and steerable rocking horse as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a left pivotal seat formed in the left side of the lower face of the front end of the seat of the main frame, with the left pivotal seat receiving the upper end of the left leg, with a left pin extending through the upper end of the left leg and the left pivotal seat, allowing pivotal movement of the left leg relative to the left pivotal seat; a left torsion spring mounted between the upper end of the left leg and the seat for returning the left leg; a right pivotal seat formed in the right side of the lower face of the front end of the seat of the main frame, with the right pivotal seat receiving the upper end of the right leg, with a right pin extending through the upper end of the right leg and the right pivotal seat, allowing pivotal movement of the right leg relative to the right pivotal seat; and a right torsion spring mounted between the upper end of the right leg and the seat for returning the right leg. 